Selangor Mentri Besar Mohamad Azmin Ali took a sarcastic swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak when speaking about the state's reserves this morning.

Without naming the prime minister, he said: "As of Aug 13, 2015, we have RM3.73 billion consolidated funds, which is RM1 billion more than the donation someone received."

This was in obvious reference to the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib's personal bank accounts, which has since been described as political donation from a Middle Eastern source.

During the question and answer session at the Selangor state assembly, Azmin said reserves increased by RM440 million from RM3.29 billion as of Aug 31, 2014.

He was responding to a question from Ng Swee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan).

The menteri besar also criticised the authorities for going after those who leaked information pertaining to the 1MDB probe and the RM2.6 billion in Najib's accounts.

"We don't want to repeat the previous mistake (under former MB Dr Mohd Khir Toyo) to give brooms (to insult) officers nor do we want to hunt down and arrest investigating officers.

"This should not have been done. There should be separation of powers between the executive and legislative, whether in the administration of the federal government or state government," said the PKR deputy president.

In 2006, Mohd Khir publicly rebuked two state government agencies for failing to collect assessment above the 50 percent mark by 'awarding' them brooms to clean up their act.

Review for free water programme

Meanwhile, the mentri besar said the state government will review its free water programme after obtaining input from lawmakers during  the next sitting in November.

 

According to him, the state government had initially wanted to help the low income group but the free water was also being used for gardening, washing cars and for swimming pools.

 

"We have no intention to abolish it, we just want to review it for the better," he said.

 

The 20 cubic metres of free water was included in Pakatan’s election manifesto in the 2008 polls. The state government forks out RM120 million to RM150 million annually for this programme.

 

Once the water restructuring process in Selangor is completed, state-owned Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd will take over the cost of the free water programme, he disclosed.

 

Asked if he foresaw an uproar from the rakyat if they no longer enjoyed free water, he said they will understand if it’s explained.

 

"They will understand that the free water is meant for those who deserve it. To a person who gets a RM2.6 billion donation, the 20 cubic metres of free water doesn't mean anything to him, he said.

 

Meanwhile, he also said the state government has no intention to implement a water hike after the water restructuring is concluded.

 

At present the water restructuring exercise only involves three companies - Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd.

 

"But we need to also conclude (the deal) with Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash), we don't know the quantum needed to be paid to the company," he said.

 

"For now, we say there is no water hike. But in future, the responsibility of the state government is not to simply burden the people.

"We will see what the best mechanism to reduce the burden is. Certainly, if you expect better service, there is a cost attached to it," he said.

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